PAGE 2 Telling The Story Of Crane-Youngworth Field Fenway Park. Wrigley Field. Lambeau Field. CraneYoungworth Field. OK, maybe Yankton’s football stadium isn’t on the same level as those other living monuments to sport (though a 1990s article referred to it as the ‘Fenway Park of the ESD’), but it has its own deep and illustrious history. With this year’s Fall Sports Preview, we at Yankton Media, Inc., hope to celebrate some of that history. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the opening of the stadium now known as Crane-Youngworth Field. Football was played on the site prior to 1926, but the original wooden grandstand was destroyed by bad weather. James D. In its CIMBUREK early days the stadium saw greats in both football and track, as an old cinder track previously lined the football field. It has been the home of Yankton High School for several years, and was originally the home of the Yankton College Greyhounds. It even hosted a University of South Dakota home game in 2001, when the DakotaDome roof construction was delayed, forcing USD to move its first two home games (one to Yankton, one to Sioux Falls). It has been home to great coaches as well. Yankton College mentor Carl Youngworth — whose name remains on the stadium — left his mark all over YC athletics. YHS head coach Max Hawk was the state’s all-time winningest until O’Gorman’s Steve Keuter broke the mark, tying it on Crane-Youngworth Field on Oct. 2, 2015. Current YHS head coach Arlin Likness has left his own mark at Crane-Youngworth, leading the Bucks to four state titles since taking over in 1999. Our staff decided that the best way to tell CraneYoungworth Field’s story was to have those who called it home — as a player, coach or fan — tell their stories. We solicited stories all summer, and added our own voices to that mix as well. We also found a couple pieces from a man who spent more time at Crane-Youngworth than anyone over the years, the late Hod Nielsen. We also have a piece that talks about the work needed at Crane-Youngworth, and the preliminary plans to get it done. Much of that talk is in the early planning stages, so there will be much more on those efforts in the future. So here we begin with the stories of Crane-Youngworth, starting with mine. ———— Because I am often the photographer for home Yankton football games, I have very few games at Crane-Youngworth Field that truly stand out in my memory. But there are two words that best describe the football I have seen from Yankton High School during that time: Dominant. Dynamic. The dominance of YHS football has been easy to see. Since 1960, the Bucks sport a 428-142-4 record, a .751 winning percentage. That run includes a dozen state titles (8 in the playoff era) and just two losing CIMBUREK | PAGE 3 COVER: An exterior photo of Crane-Youngworth Field, with an undated earlier photo of the stadium melded with a current one. The undated photo is courtesy of Yankton College. (Photo illustration by James D. Cimburek/P&D) ABOVE: An interior photo of Crane-Youngworth Field, taken Aug. 19, 2016. The main grandstand celebrates 90 years in existence this season. (James D. Cimburek/P&D) BELOW: An undated interior photo of Crane-Youngworth Field, courtesy of Yankton College. Cover Story | Crane-Youngworth Field YHS Examines Future Of Stadium BY SHAUNA MARLETTE shauna.marlette@yankton.net On Friday, Sept. 24, 1926 the Yankton Bucks football team battled Hartington High School to a 0-0 tie in their first football game of the season. More significantly, they began what has become a 90year tradition of YHS playing their football games in front of the concrete stadium at what was known then as the Yankton College Greyhound’s Crane Field. The first concrete stadium in the state of South Dakota, it was built for the cost of $8,000 and seated 1,500 people. Officially dedicated on Oct. 23, 1926, it is hard to imagine that it has taken 90 years and many changes — not the least of which is the closure of Yankton College in 1984 — for the Yankton School District to be faced with the decision of what the next reincarnation of Crane-Youngworth Field will look like. Beginning with an editorial in the Press and Dakotan by Superintendent Wayne Kindle in November of 2014, YSD and the Yankton community have participated in meetings, surveys, forums, committees and, yes, the all-important coffee chats, debating what would be the best choice for the home of Yankton’s football team and marching band. Following all the debate and months of study, at the June 13 board meeting it was official: YSD would be staying at Crane-Youngworth. That decision was followed up at the July board meeting with the decision to move forward with a new five-year capital outlay plan authorizing district officials to begin planning for renovations to Crane Youngworth Field immediately. To be clear, what the new Crane-Youngworth field will look like has not been decided. Options range from renovating the existing a decision has been made,” he said. Whatever the final decision, both Mors and Kindle are glad the project is moving forward. “I am not sure what the reaction of the students will be,” Mors said. “Most of the decisions have been done this summer and I haven’t had contact with them yet. But, based on the fact that when the student body was asked what they preferred for a location, overwhelmingly they said they preferred Crane-Youngworth, I expect they will be excited.” However, they warned don’t be too excited yet. Because they still need to be able to use the field for games next fall, the school will be limited in how much they can do at a time. stadium, to building a new specs for the work required, the stadium and press box. interest of the school. That “It may be a situation, one on the opposite side of create a potential timeline Concessions – Bathrooms way, the school board will be the field, to tearing down the for the project, and, maybe – Parking Lots: Led by Sandi able to make the best choice much like what SDSU had to do with their new stadium: existing stadium and rebuild- most importantly, determine Kramer, Child Nutrition Direc- possible.” Albeit on a much smaller ing. Or, maybe a combination what the cost will be to the tor for the Yankton School Kindle also added that of both ideas. district. district, this committee will because the entire budget for scale, where we do a portion In an interview with the “The goal is to be able to focus on concession renova- the project will be funded out of the renovations one year and the second half the next,” Press and Dakotan, Kindle reconvene our committees tions, bathroom renovations of the Capital Outlay fund of and activities director Ryan early in the new year to look and updates to the parkthe district and the board has Mors said. To put that in context, Mors said those options and at the drawings and specs ing lots including lighting, already allocated the money more are being explored by and to finalize the timeline so concrete and marked parking needed for the project, there it is not clear if this year’s sophomores or freshmen will three newly established com- we can move forward on the stalls. will be no additional cost to be the first seniors to play mittees. project,” Kindle said. “Each of the committees the tax payers of the school on the fully completed and “With the decision to The three committees will begin meeting in early district. move forward immediately, include: September,” Kindle said. “I In addition, he noted that renovated Crane-Youngworth Field. No matter which class we have set up the three Field – Grounds – Field think it is important to know once the final plans have committees to look at all of House: Led by Ryan Mors, that we are being very open been set, a fourth committee will have the honor, the district can only hope that our options,” Kindle said. this committee will be minded about the results. We will be formed and tasked they will get another 90 years “I have charged them to be expected to make the deciwant to have very good diswith the job of doing fundout of the low-end estimate of on a very tight timeline and sion if the district should go cussions so that the recomraising for the facility. $1.3 million project. they are all expected to come forward with natural grass or mendations that are made to “We have had several back to the school board in synthetic turf. Decide what the school board will reflect people speak to us about the Follow @shauna.marlette November and report their updates should be completed what the community wants fact that they might want to on Twitter. findings and suggestions. At on the visiting locker rooms. to see and what is in the best donate to the project once that time, it will be up to the Consider other grounds school board to decide what changes, such as moving they want to move forward of fences, and eliminating We’ve got you with. No matter what the unnecessary traffic inside covered! recommendations, the school the complex, the relocation board will make the final of the visiting bus, bleacher decision.” locations and other details. Kindle said once the final Stadium – Press Box: Led decision has been made the by Dr. Jennifer Johnke, YHS choices will be given to the principal, this committee will Full Service Salon 3013 Broadway, Yankton TSP Firm of Sioux Falls, the determine what the choice (East of Walmart) same firm used to analyze the of stadium will be. They will 311 Cedar, Yankton district’s facilities this last also determine what the new (605) 260-8888 664-HAIR (4247) spring, who will then create press box should look like. ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET computerized drawings of They will also address all Carmen, Gerri the proposed changes, set up ADA issues relating to both Hair AND Beyond Don’t let an injury keep you sidelined. Trust our experienced staff. Morgen Square Good Luck To All Of The Area Athletes! 605.260.5003